The February 28th PAT 2009 Regional Conference continued with a luncheon and afternoon sessions. This report covers those activities and discussions.

Dr. Minoa Uffelman introduces the keynote speaker, Dr. Ted Ownby.

The luncheon keynote speaker was Ted Ownby, University of Mississippi, Professor of History and Southern Studies, Director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. His topic was “Free Bird, Roots, and Family Values: Southern Culture in the 1970s.” Ownby centered his talk on “What it means to be part of a family in the South in the 70’s.” Three elements must be considered. “The South in the 70’s is working out integration and is no longer a rural agrarian culture. The South is establishing a new relationship with the federal government.”

Southern Rock Music in the 70’s is dominated by groups such as The Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Greg Allman Band, The Allman Bros. , Charlie Daniels and ZZ Top. These bands, and others of their genre, focused on life on the road as an admirable endeavor and a worthwhile way of life. Unlike country music, these new Southern music advocates did not reminisce about being at home or a favorite pet dog, nor did they bemoan Mom or good times past or the hardships of growing up poor. These music groups glamorized the life of the wanderer. They held a distinct pride of the South and being Southern people. They acknowledged not all of Her Past was good, even alluded to a certain loss of mystique of the Old South, but defiantly defended The South from rebuke by non-Southerners, particularly Neil Young.

Dr. Ted Ownby, Prof. of History, Director of Center for Study of Southern Culture, University of Mississippi

In 1976, Alex Haley published “Roots.” “Roots” is important in many ways. To American History and African American History, it shows the continuity from America back to Africa and the connection between the two continents. It proclaims, “Every child is important as the new thing in the world.” “Roots” highlighted the complexity of African American family life, showing the strength of the Black Family, it’s ability to adapt, to change to adapt to conditions and situations. In “Roots,” the flexibility of the Black Family, in all its many guises, was put on display before all the world.

“Roots” ultimately showed America the true definition of ‘Family’ as a group of people, not necessarily blood-related, who adapt to change and adapt to survive as a group with shared interests.”

The third element is the Rise of a New Religious Conservatism, the advent of the Religious Right. The South in the 70’s saw the rise of a religious movement that stressed that the family needs to be separated from the general society. This movement proclaimed that with the shifting winds of social change let loose by the civil rights movement, there was a need for the family to structure and conduct itself if it was to survive. The biblical ties in Southern culture have always been strong. The disruption to what had been ‘the accepted norm’ poised new questions and doubts to the family structure. To circumvent those doubts and restore a sense of stability and familiarity, this new religious conservatism arose. Groups such as American Family Values and the Morale Majority grew out of these precepts.

Dr. Uffelman presents Dr. Ownby with an APSU Shirt in appreciation

Dr. Uffelman presented Dr. Ownby with a APSU Sweatshirt as an appreciation token for his presence. Lane College was announced as the host for the next regional conference. In getting the promotion stream for that conference rolling, she displayed a souvenir shirt that was for sale at the register table as reminder to the attendants of what fun things to expect at Lane College.

She also took the opportunity to again acknowledge the hard work of her support team in coordinating the conference, thanking Dr. Dewey Broder, Pamela Allen, Dr. David Nelson for communications; Denise Richards-President, Julia Dittrich-Vice President, Leslie Crouch-Secretary, Theta Delta Chapter and especially Asia Parker, student assistant.

Following the luncheon and its celebrations, the afternoon panel sessions got under way. These panels continued the trend of the morning sessions, covering an equally compelling diverse range of subjects.

Panel 15: U.S. Military in Nontraditional Roles – “Deconstructing de-Ba‟athification” by Ron Martz, Austin Peay State University; “United Nations Peacekeeping: At Birth and Today” by David Ogan, Austin Peay State University with Comments: Dr. Dewey Browder, Austin Peay State University.

Panel 16: American Revolution: Sea Battles – “Small Boat Operations in Long Island Sound, 1775-1779” by Eric Turner, Austin Peay State University; “Losing Command of the Sea: The Royal Navy in the American War 1775-1780 and Mast Shortages” by Andrew Breer, Austin Peay State University with Comments: Dr. Kevin Tanner, Austin Peay State University.

Panel 17: Labor and Economy in Nazi Germany – “Hitler‟s Economics: A Truly Dismal Case in the History of Dismal Science” by William Austin Newsom, Maryville College; “Women and Nazi Germany” by Maggie Fields, Austin Peay State University with Comments: Prof. Antonio Thompson, Austin Peay State University.

Panel 18: Roundtable - MTSU Recent Projects in Public History- “You call that Progress?” Displaced Community Residents Reclaim Their Past” by Dollie Boyd, Middle Tennessee State University; “Family Tradition: the Williams Family Legacy” by Kristen Deathridge, Middle Tennessee State University, “Restoring Historic Photographs” by Ashleigh Oatts, Middle Tennessee State University; “‟The Second Independence Hall‟ The Wesleyan Chapel of Seneca Falls, NY” by Elizabeth Smith, Middle Tennessee State University with Moderator: Rebecca Conard, Middle Tennessee State University.

Panel 19: Blues, Baseball and Black Male Identity – “‟I Ain‟t Gonna Raise No More Cotton, and Tell You the Reason I Say So”: Delta Blues Music‟s Origins in Cotton Tenant Farming and Sharecropping” by Tyler Moore, Middle Tennessee State University; “The Memphis Red Sox: Barely Hanging On, 1947-1960” by Kathleen Cooper, Union University; “Generation Lost: The Creation of the African American Male Psyche” by Ash Johnson, Belmont University with Comments: Michael Bertrand, Tennessee State University.

Panel 20: Post WWII US Politics- “Harry S. Truman: The Enduring Southern Buck” by Julia Dittrich, Austin Peay State University; “Joseph McCarthy and the Power of Fear” by Meagan Kelly, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga; “Scalawags and Carpetbaggers: The Politics of George C. Wallace” by Stefanie Porter, Austin Peay State University with Comments: Terry Lindley, Union University.

Panel 21: American Influence Overseas: Two Perspectives, Direct And Policy-“William Walker: Putting Man‟ in Manifest Destiny” by Tonya Parham, University of Memphis; “Fruit of a Foe: Food as a Weapon in the Cold War” by Meghan O’Dea, University of Tennessee Chattanooga with Comments: Prof. Christos Frentzos, Austin Peay State University.

Sitting in on Panel 19: Blues, Baseball and Black Male Identity, the following highlights are conveyed.

Tyler Moore’ s presentati0n was titled ” I Ain’t Gonna Raise No More Cotton and Tell You the Reason I Say So: Delta Blues Music’s Origin in Cotton Tenant Farming and Sharecropping.”

Tyler Moore, MTSU, presents "Blues, Baseball ... "

Cotton farming in the Mississippi Delta was more productive than anywhere else in Southern farming. The Southern custom of single crop farming actually led to the South’s poor economic advance. Rotation of crops was not a farm tradition practiced in Delta cotton farming, nor tenant farming. Sharecropping was a perpetual farm labor system. The labor force was never able to retire the debts it accumulated during winter and the growing season. Black families dominated the tenant farming population in the South. This was especially so in the Mississippi Delta. Tenants were ever in debt to the landowner who controlled the price system which declared the price paid for a bale of cotton. The tenant farmers never knew the weight of their harvest, nor how much the landowners were paid for the crop. This way, the landowner kept the tenants in perpetual continuing debt. Middle Class white property owners saw sharecropping as the single and best means to control their labor source. As social norms changed, Mississippi took extreme measures to try to retain its feudal sharecropping system. During the Black Exodus from the South for the Harlem Renaissance, the state actually enacted laws forbidding its Black citizens from leaving.

As in any human situation of despair and suffering, a means of release and relief always comes into the fore. For the Black tenant farming population, that relief manifested itself in the creation of the ‘Delta Blues.’  Or more specifically ‘The Blues.’ Many of the pioneering legends of The Blues  had their upbringing in the Mississippi Delta as the background for their inspiration. Songs always refer to some misfortune of the labors of tobacco farming, the abject poverty of that life, the lack of ever having something to call one’s own, the harshness of  living in the South, the misfortunes of a love affair; all of these things were elements, if not actual topics of Blues songs. They still permeate the modern day Blues repertoire. Chicago’s Blues scene owes its very existence to the migration of Mississippi sharecroppers who managed to migrate there from their dire circumstances ‘Down South.’

Kathleen Cooper, Union University, presented “The Memphis Red Sox- Barely Hanfing On 1947-61960“

Kathleen Cooper, Union University, makes her presentation.

In the days of segregated baseball, colored baseball teams struggled to survive. The players did not enjoy the support system of their white counterparts. Sponsors were virtually nonexistent. Training and game facilities were never the parallel of the ‘Establishment’ teams. Among the Negro League, Memphis’s Red Sox enjoyed a unique existence. The Martin Brothers’ ownership of their own stadium contributed greatly to the Red Sox’s long tenure in pro-baseball. Martin Stadium was the homebase of Memphis Negro Baseball in the days of early integration of baseball following Jackie Robinson’s admission to White Pro Baseball. The Memphis Red Sox made extra efforts to attract attendance- beauty pageants, free give-a-ways, Ladies Night, special discounts on food, special menu items; all of these promotions were part of the allure of Red Sox Baseball in Memphis.

The Memphis Red Sox existed in the time of the Segregated South, in the South. Southern politics affected every aspect of Black Life and Baseball was no different. Edward “Boss’ Crump controlled politics in Memphis. The Martin Brothers partnered with Crump, which allowed them to become members of the Black High Society. Under Crump, Blacks were even allowed to vote, but they had to vote as Crump dictated. The era of segregation and racism had created a  system of sub-culture entertainment and opportunity for Black baseball players.

Jackie Robinson’s admittance to White Pro Baseball heralded the end of the Negro League. With the rise of the Civil Rights Movement in the South, the institution of Black Baseball also felt pressure to be supportive, if not actually involved in the changing social tide. For team owners and operators like the Martin Brothers, this was not possible, from an economic standpoint. Their alliance with “Boss” Crump was incompatible with the growing demands from the African American community for recognition and support of the civil rights movement. When Dr. King sought to stage a rally at Martin Stadium, the brothers denied the request and a firestorm of outrage and protest ensued. Their connection to the Crump machine was a serious impediment to their endorsement or participation in the emerging struggle that was gripping the South.

Jackie Robinson’s breaking of the ‘Color Barrier’ opened the way for other Negro League players to switch over to the major leagues and this further stressed the Negro League’s ability to survive. The civil rights movement’s advancing pace also added to that stress as players saw their future more in the major leagues than in staying with the Negro League. A unique African American institution was brought down with the advance of equality and the struggle for civil rights.

The final paper of the panel was “Generations Lost: Creation of the African American Male Psyche” by Ash Johnson, Belmont University.

Ash Johnson, Belmont University, gives his presentation.

With Barack Obama having succeeded in becoming the 44th President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief and African American males lead major  major corporations, sports teams and other segments of American society, many may think that American has become post-racial. This is not reality.

“While the cultural contributions of African American society is appreciated by White Society. But their physical presence is not.”

American society has greatly benefited from the many contributions of African Americans, Inventions by African Americans have made life more prosperous, convenient and safe. White America does appreciate the many contributions of African Americans, sometimes begrudgingly, but all the while creating endless tactics not to have to contend with their presence. There exists a perpetual unease in White America in accepting and acknowledging the physical presence of African Americans. This undercurrent of unease  has had a continuing negative impact upon African Americans.

From the time of slavery, skin tone has been used as a device to create division within the African American community. Forced interracial congress upon African American female slaves by their slave masters introduced lighter skin tones into the population and discrimination based on skin tone crept into the slave demographics.These lighter skin toned slaves often were assigned to work in the slave-owners house as cooks, maids and hand-servants. Their days were immensely more tolerable than that of the field slaves.

Another tactic has been the practice of White Society to marginalize the African American male while elevating and praising the African American female. The African American male has suffered from the degradation of being portrayed as an inherently uncontrollable demon-monster, a slackard, a sexual aggressor, a mental deficient, a physical dynamo, inherently accomplished in entertainment, unreliable, not family oriented, inherently prone to criminal behavior, obsessed with interracial sexual congress-usually by force and being without salvation. Such labels place inhuman burdens upon the African American Male and work to unnaturally imperil the survival and success of their demographic.

[Show as slideshow]

123►

Uncredited photos are by Turner McCullough Jr.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today hailed a Senate vote rejecting tax funding for religious facilities in the economic recovery package.

“The Senate has voted to reaffirm an important American principle that religious groups should pay their own way and not expect funding from the taxpayer,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United.

The 54-43 vote came after Religious Right groups began complaining that the proposed economic recovery bill (H.R. 1) was hostile to religion. In fact, the legislation merely states that tax funds used for school construction and rehabilitation may not be diverted to religious institutions.Church-state experts said such language has traditionally been part of legislation that deals with building projects and infrastructure. It’s necessary, they note, because the Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution bars use of public funds to build or renovate houses of worship and other religious facilities.

During the past few days, Religious Right groups have been asserting that the language will bar student religious groups from meeting at universities. Americans United pointed out that the provision has nothing to do with such meetings.

AU noted that the Supreme Court ruled in 1981 that public universities must give the same access to facilities to religious groups that is granted to non-religious ones.

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), an ally of the Religious Right, attempted to remove language in the bill that bans tax funding of religious facilities. AU and other organizations quickly pointed out that the DeMint provision is unconstitutional and unnecessary.

In a letter to all 100 senators, AU Legislative Director Aaron Schuham wrote, “The best and most important way our Founding Fathers sought to protect and promote religion was to ensure that government does not interfere with it. This language is just one more way that our laws reflect this constitutional requirement and important national tradition.”

Lynn expressed delight over the vote, the first up-or-down tally on a church-state issue in many years.

“Religion has traditionally paid for its own buildings and projects in America, and we’ve been better off for that,” Lynn said. “I’m thankful that the Senate has rejected this misguided and reckless gambit to sneak government-funded religion in through the back door.”

About the author: Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

From radioactive clergy to media inquisitions, religion was a hot topic in this year’s race to the White House, according to editors of Church and State Magazine.

The role of religion in the presidential campaign tops the 2008 “Top Ten” list of top church-state stories, according to the editors of Church & State. The monthly magazine published by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, is the nation’s only news periodical devoted exclusively to the intersection of religion and government.

Said Church & State publisher Barry W. Lynn, “It was a wild and crazy year. To tell you the truth, I’m glad it’s coming to a close. I’m hopeful 2009 will be a lot better.”

After studying the past 12 months of news, the editors selected the following 10 stories as the most important and most interesting church-state developments for the year.

1.  The Role of Religion in the Presidential Campaign: Not since 1960 when John F. Kennedy the first Roman Catholic president was elected, has religion played such a large role in a presidential campaign. News media representatives grilled candidates on what sins they had committed and what their favorite Bible verses were. Barack Obama fought false rumors that he is secretly a Muslim, and Mitt Romney’s Mormonism became a controversial topic. Candidates were held accountable for the incendiary comments of their pastors and their clergy supporters, such as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and TV preacher John Hagee. Many observers thought the whole thing was an unholy mess, especially in a nation that separates religion and government.

2. The Resurgence of the Religious Right: While pundits and progressives have proclaimed the demise of the Religious Right, the fundamentalist political movement remained extraordinarily powerful. Republican John McCain found it necessary to name evangelical Sarah Palin as his running mate to mollify the GOP’s restive religious base, and Religious Right forces rammed through bans on same-sex marriage in California, Florida and Arizona. Moderate evangelical Richard Cizik was forced out as government affairs representative at the National Association of Evangelicals after coming under fire from Religious Right forces.

3.  The Battle Over Gay Marriage: Bans on same-sex marriage were approved in California, Florida and Arizona with conservative religious forces leading the drive. California’s approval of Proposition 8, with massive funding from members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was particularly contentious. The Mormons, joined by the Roman Catholic hierarchy and evangelical Protestant congregations, were successful in passing a constitutional amendment that takes away the right of same-sex couples to marry and reflects church doctrine in civil law. The issue now moves back to the state Supreme Court.

4.  The Ascendancy of Rick Warren: Once known primarily as a mega-church pastor and best-selling author (The Purpose Driven Life), the Rev. Rick Warren has rapidly moved into position as the nation’s most prominent preacher, despite right-wing views on reproductive freedom, gay rights and church-state separation. Warren, a Southern Baptist who heads Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., is viewed by progressives as Jerry Falwell in a Hawaiian shirt with an ace PR team. After hosting a presidential debate stacked toward John McCain and being asked to give the invocation at Barack Obama’s inauguration, many think Warren seems destined to be the new Billy Graham.

5.  Religious Right Influence at Justice Department: Religious Right influence at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) was exposed this year. According to an internal DOJ investigation reported in the media in July, senior aides in the department used religious and political criteria to hire staff members for non-political positions. Monica Goodling, a top adviser to the attorney general, checked to see if job applicants were “pro-God in public life” and held right-wing views on abortion, homosexuality and other issues. (Goodling is a graduate of TV preacher Pat Robertson’s Regent University.) DOJ also posted a legally dubious memorandum this year insisting that the federal government may give grants to “faith-based” social service agencies that discriminate in hiring, even if Congress has explicitly banned such bias.

6. Battles Over Creationism in Public Schools: New battles have erupted over the teaching of evolution in public schools. Blocked by the courts from teaching fundamentalist religious concepts directly in biology classes, Religious Right forces are trying a backdoor strategy. They are demanding that schools teach the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution, a euphemism for creationist ideas. Over the heated objections of educators, scientists and civil liberties activists, the Louisiana legislature approved an “academic freedom” law encouraging such instruction in the state’s schools. Now the Texas State Board of Education is debating a similar proposal as part of its 10-year review of science standards.

7. Church Politicking Plot: The Religious Right’s dream of building a fundamentalist church-based political machine took a big step forward in 2008 when more than 30 pastors used their pulpits to endorse Republican political candidates. They acted at the behest of the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a wealthy Religious Right legal outfit that wants to challenge the federal tax law ban on partisan politicking by tax-exempt groups. The ADF, which was founded by TV preachers and other religious broadcasters, hopes the Internal Revenue Service will revoke participating churches’ tax exemptions leading to a court showdown.

8.  Defeat of Jeb Bush Referenda: Florida Gov. Jeb Bush saw his school voucher subsidies for religious and other private schools overturned by the state Supreme Court in 2006. Undeterred, the now former governor’s allies on an obscure tax commission engineered two measures onto the November 2008 ballot that would have repealed the state constitution’s ban on public funding of religion as well as diluted its provision for a strong system of public schools. To Bush’s dismay, the state Supreme Court on Sept. 3 struck the referenda from the ballot, derailing the scheme.

9.  Blocking of ‘Christian’ License Plate: The South Carolina legislature unanimously approved a special “Christian” license plate featuring a bright yellow cross, a stained-glass church window and the words “I Believe.” Backed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, four local clergy and two minority faith groups challenged the government favoritism toward one faith. On Dec. 11, a federal district court blocked issuance of the plates. The judge’s action may forestall similar sectarian plates under consideration in other states.

10.  The Christmas Wars: It has become an annual holiday tradition Religious Right groups and their allies in the right-wing media launch a yearly crusade to stop the alleged secularization of Christmas and to pressure government to include Christian symbols in the holiday mix. They rail against stores’ use of the term “Happy Holidays” and insist that advertisements say “Merry Christmas” instead. This year, much of the attention focused on a Washington State battle where an atheist Winter Solstice sign was positioned near a Christian Nativity scene in the state capital. Fox News pundit Bill O’Reilly and an array of Religious Right scolds lambasted Gov. Christine Gregoire for allowing the anti-religious sentiment. Ironically, credit for the atheist display actually should go to the Alliance Defense Fund, a Religious Right legal group that sued Gregoire last year, insisting that the Capitol is an open forum where a Nativity scene (and all other forms of speech) must be allowed.

About the Source: Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

AU Executive Director Barry Lynn

Americans United for Separation of Church and State on Wednesday urged the Texas State Board of Education to stick to sound science and reject creationist concepts when revising its science standards. The state school board is currently examining the science curriculum, which is reviewed and updated every 10 years. The Seattle-based Discovery Institute and other Religious Right forces are seeking to include loopholes that undermine instruction about evolution and open the door to creationist ideas.

Scientists, teachers, mainstream religious leaders and civil liberties activists want to improve the Texas standards to ensure that the public school classroom does not become a vehicle for religious indoctrination.

“Public schools should educate, not indoctrinate. The Religious Right is exploiting Texas public schools to push a narrow viewpoint and in the process is doing a great disservice to its students, not to mention undermining the mandates of our Constitution.” ~~   Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director.

The battle in Texas is focused on Religious Right-backed language currently in the standards that requires schools to teach the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution. That wording, experts say, is an invitation to introduce creationist concepts based on fundamentalist religion, not science.

“Let’s just hope members of the Texas school board recognize the ‘strengths and weaknesses’ language for what it is,” Lynn concluded. “If they don’t, they could be inviting public school districts to face some costly litigation.”

In its letter to the board, Americans United makes it clear that litigation may result if religious beliefs are introduced into public school science classrooms.

The board’s decision, which is expected to be made in March, could influence science instruction across the country. Texas is the second largest purchaser of textbooks, after California. To meet Texas standards, textbook producers may include creationist concepts in books that would circulate nationally.

A hearing is scheduled for today in Austin for individuals and groups to testify on the curriculum.

Religious Right groups have already succeeded in pushing through their agenda in Louisiana, which now allows science teachers to use “supplemental materials” to teach the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution. AU is closely monitoring whether religious beliefs are being introduced unconstitutionally as science by teachers in Louisiana.

The federal courts have repeatedly struck down other tactics used by the Religious Right to push religion in public science classes. In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court in Edwards v. Aguillard invalidated a Louisiana statute requiring science educators to “balance” teaching evolution concepts with “creation science” concepts.

In 2005, a federal district court said in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District that Pennsylvania public schools cannot teach “intelligent design,” a creationist concept that claims the universe and living things were created by an “intelligent cause.” The court ruled “intelligent design” unconstitutional for use in public schools because it is unscientific and religious.

About the Author: Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

The Religious Right’s access to power in Washington, D.C., has been seriously diminished, but its divisive influence at the state and local level remains deeply problematic, according to an election analysis by Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

“Religious Right forces did everything in their power to demonize Barack Obama and maintain their influence in the White House,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “but it didn’t work. The majority of white evangelicals voted predictably Republican, but most other Americans ignored the Religious Right’s shrill and partisan message.”

Lynn noted that Religious Right groups distributed grotesquely biased voter guides, goaded evangelical pastors into issuing partisan appeals from the pulpit and made dire predictions about the consequences of an Obama victory.

“James Dobson, Tony Perkins, Richard Land and Company did everything but declare Obama the Antichrist. In the end, they kept their own flock in line, but the majority of Americans were unmoved. On Jan. 20, the Religious Right’s eight-year run of the White House will come to a screeching halt.” ~~  Rev. Barry W. Lynn

Lynn, however, said he deplores the Religious Right’s continuing baleful influence at the state and local level. The movement engineered anti-gay measures and restrictions on reproductive rights onto many state ballots.

“Battles over gay rights and reproductive choice in states like Florida, California and Arizona were bitter, costly and divisive,” said Lynn. “Religious Right activists won some and lost some, but in every case they inflamed ugly passions and stirred up hatred toward their fellow Americans.”

Lynn said the Religious Right is likely to increase its activity at the state and local level, now that advances in Washington will be harder to obtain.

“The Religious Right is not dead,” concluded Lynn, “but I’m happy that most Americans seem very wary of the movement’s reckless merger of religion and politics. Those of us who value church-state separation must remain on the alert to counter the Religious Right’s next gambit.”

About the Author: Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

The overwhelmingly majority of America’s religious leaders have apparently rejected the Religious Right’s efforts to politicize their pulpits, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

A new poll by LifeWay Research has found that 95 percent of pastors strongly disagree that their church has provided any endorsements. Baptist Press, the news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, reported Oct. 30 that 53 percent of Protestant pastors affirmed that they have “personally endorsed candidates for public office this year,” but only outside of their church roles.

Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “I have always believed that the vast majority of America’s clergy had no interest in politicizing their houses of worship. Pulpit partisanship divides congregations and communities and jeopardizes the integrity of religious institutions.”

Lynn said the Religious Right’s aggressive efforts to lure churches into partisan politics and violate federal tax law have been largely unsuccessful this year.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), one of the nation’s largest and most influential Religious Right groups, urged evangelical pastors to intervene in the election by endorsing or opposing candidates from the pulpit on Sept. 28. Only 33 did so.

Americans United has filed eight complaints with the Internal Revenue Service about churches that participated in the ADF’s so-called “Pulpit Freedom Sunday.”

Americans United this year has also distributed some 100,000 letters to Christian, Jewish and Muslim houses of worship about provisions of the federal tax law governing candidate endorsements by tax-exempt institutions.

Said AU’s Lynn, “This is the last weekend before Election Day. I’m sure there may be a few misguided clergy who cross the line and endorse candidates from the pulpit. But I am confident that most will obey the law.

“Americans United,” he said, “has chapters, members and supporters in all 50 states. If we learn of tax law violations, we will contact the IRS. I hope we don’t have to.”

About the author: Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has criticized a ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the use of sectarian prayers before government meetings in Cobb County, Ga.

The court ruled 2-1 that Cobb County’s practice of opening meetings with prayers that include references to specific deities is constitutional. Americans United and the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia argued that under Supreme Court precedent, communities must use non-sectarian prayer.

Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “The Constitution gives government officials no authority whatsoever to prefer one religion over others. This decision is very disappointing.”

Americans United and the ACLU pointed out that most of the prayers were Christian in character. The organizations represented local taxpayers who opposed the county’s prayer policy.

Americans United Legal Director Ayesha N. Khan said the ruling in the Pelphrey v. Cobb County case conflicts with a 1983 ruling by the Supreme Court declaring that prayers used before government meetings must be non-sectarian. Other federal courts have upheld that decision.

Judge Bill Pryor wrote today’s misguided opinion. Pryor, formerly the attorney general of Alabama, was known for his activism on behalf of  causes during his tenure in that state. He vigorously defended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who sought to erect a Ten Commandments monument in the state Judicial Building.

Said AU’s Khan, “Citizens of all faiths and none should feel welcome at county council meetings. When meetings begin with sectarian prayers, some people are inevitably going to be left out. That needlessly divides the community.”

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate an Arkansas church whose pastor endorsed John McCain from the pulpit Oct. 12.

According to a report in the Associated Press, Bishop Robert Smith of Word of Outreach Christian Center in Little Rock told congregants, “I will be voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin.”

Smith later admitted that he took this action fully aware that federal tax law prohibits houses of worship from opposing or endorsing candidates. He told the Associated Press, “It’s about principle. I wouldn’t care if it’s my mother. If she isn’t for life or for heterosexual relationships, I wouldn’t vote for my momma.”

Smith’s violation of the law was part of a larger effort coordinated by the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group. The ADF sponsored a so-called “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” Sept. 28 during which pastors were urged to violate federal tax law by endorsing or opposing candidates from the pulpit. Smith had planned to take part in that event but was out of town at the time.The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, urged the IRS to act swiftly in this case.

“Bishop Smith knowingly and flagrantly violated the law and has even dared the IRS to investigate him for it,” Lynn said. “I hope the federal tax agency promptly takes him up on that.”

Lynn noted that recent public-opinion polls have shown widespread opposition to pulpit politicking. He criticized Religious Right groups for pushing this crusade.

“The ADF and groups like it are trying to divert America’s churches away from spiritual matters and turn them into faith-based political action committees,” Lynn said. “It’s a mistake, and the effort deserves to fail.”

About the Author: Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service about six churches whose pastors endorsed candidates from the pulpit during a mass defiance of federal tax law last Sunday.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group in Scottsdale, Ariz., urged pastors to defy federal tax law by endorsing or opposing candidates during a so-called “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” Sept. 28. Under the IRS Code, churches and other 501(c)(3) tax-exempt groups may not intervene in elections.

“These pastors flagrantly violated the law and now must deal with the consequences. This is one of the most appalling Religious Right gambits I’ve ever seen. Church leaders are supposed to tend to Americans’ spiritual needs, not behave like partisan political hacks. I urge the IRS to act swiftly in these cases.” ~~ Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United.

Lynn also scored the ministers who took part in the ADF gambit.

“A pastor who knowingly violates federal tax law is setting a poor example for his or her congregation,” Lynn said. “Every pastor who took part in this stunt ought to be ashamed.”

The ADF overture has been roundly criticized. Many pastors refused to take part, arguing that America’s pulpits should not be politicized. In addition, three former IRS officials have filed a complaint asserting that the ADF has violated ethics standards governing tax attorneys by urging clients to violate the law.

The six churches reported to the IRS by Americans United today are:

• Bethlehem Baptist Church, Bethlehem, Ga.: According to press accounts, Pastor Jody Hice “urged his congregation to vote for Sen. John McCain and to not vote for Sen. Barack Obama.”
• Fairview Baptist Church, Fairview, Okla.: The Associated Press reported that Pastor Paul Blair “says he told his congregation that as a Christian and as an American citizen, he would be voting for John McCain.”
• Warroad Community Church, Warroad, Minn.: Pastor Gus Booth told his congregation, “We need to vote for the most righteous of candidates. And it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that out. The most righteous is John McCain.”
• Calvary Chapel, Philadelphia, Pa.: The Rev. Francis Pultro told the congregation, “As Christians it’s clear we should vote for John McCain. He is the only candidate I believe a Christian can vote for.”
• First Southern Baptist Church, Buena Park, Calif.: The Rev. Wiley Drake said, “I am angry because the government and the IRS and some Christians have taken away the rights of pastors. I have a right to endorse anybody I doggone well please. And if they don’t like that, too bad….According to my Bible and in my opinion, there is no way in the world a Christian can vote for Barack Hussein Obama. Mr. Obama is not standing up for anything that is tradition in America.”
• New Life Church, West Bend, Wisc.: Speaking from the pulpit, Pastor Luke Emrich said, “I’m telling you straight up I would choose life. I would cast a vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin.”

Said AU’s Lynn, “When five of the six pastors choose to endorse John McCain, it’s hard not to see the ADF scheme as partisan in character.”

In complaint letters filed with the IRS, Americans United urged swift investigations of the churches and appropriate penalties.

About AU: Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Houses of worship that flagrantly violated federal tax law by taking part in a Religious Right-led effort to politicize America’s pulpits today will be promptly reported to the Internal Revenue Service, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group based in Arizona, is urging pastors to endorse or oppose candidates from the pulpit on Sept. 28, even though IRS regulations forbid tax-exempt groups from intervening in political campaigns. Reportedly, about 30 churches will participate.

“Taking part in this reckless stunt is a one-way ticket to loss of tax exemption,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “We’ll be watching, and pastors who violate the law can expect their churches to be reported to the IRS the first thing Monday morning.”

Since 1996, Americans United has sponsored Project Fair Play, an effort designed to educate religious leaders about the requirements of federal tax law. AU has filed complaints to the IRS about 85 houses of worship and religious non-profits. One church lost its tax exemption, some have been audited and others have received IRS warnings. Lynn noted that tax exemption is a privilege and it comes with certain limitations.

“Houses of worship exist to enrich people’s spiritual lives, not act like political machines that issue marching orders to voters,” Lynn said. “They are tax-exempt because their work is religious and charitable, not political.”

Earlier this month, prominent Washington tax attorneys and former IRS officials Marcus Owens, Mort Caplin and Cono Namorato told the IRS that the ADF’s scheme is a “mass violation of federal tax law” and clearly violates the ethics rules governing practice before the IRS. They called for an IRS investigation and appropriate penalties for the ADF.

Meanwhile, Americans United is circulating a letter to churches advising religious leaders on the rules governing tax-exempt entities and politics. Churches should not participate in the ADF’s “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” scheme if they want to hold on to their tax exemption.

Many clergy have opposed the ADF’s plan for this Sunday. Archbishop John C. Favalora of Miami released a statement indicating that none of his Catholic churches or priests will participate in the initiative.

The Rev. Eric Williams of North Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio, urged clergy all over America to give sermons in support of church-state separation and against partisan politics in houses of worship. Americans United’s Web site, http://www.projectfairplay.org/, educates pastors, laypeople and others about the requirements of federal tax law. It also serves as a place to report tax law violations to Americans United.

Added Lynn, “Pastors who are thinking of joining the ADF’s gambit still have time to change their minds and I urge them to do so.”

About the source:

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.